Gambling and online casinos in Australia

Australia is one of the most gambling countries in the world, where gambling is an important part of the economy and culture.

Casinos, lotteries, poker clubs and sports betting are legalized here, and a reliable legal framework ensures transparency and market security.

Although locally licensed online casinos are officially banned, Australian residents actively use international platforms,

which makes the country one of the largest online gambling centers in Asia and Oceania.

Historical context

The first state lottery in Australia appeared back in the 1880s,

and the first casino - Wrest Point Casino in Tasmania - opened in 1973.

Since then, gambling has become firmly established in the lives of Australians:

there are more slot machines ("pokies") in the country than anywhere outside Las Vegas.

Online gambling began to actively develop in the 1990th,

and in 2001 the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) was adopted,

establishes strict rules for Internet operators.

Legislation and regulation

Gambling is regulated at both the federal and state levels.

The basic law is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA),

which prohibits unlicensed online casinos,

but allows sports, lottery and poker betting.

Key regulators:

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) - federal oversight of online gambling;
State and Territory Gaming Commissions - regional commissions regulating casinos and licenses (for example, NSW Liquor & Gaming, Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation).

Main provisions:

online casinos and slot machines are banned domestically;
online bookmakers and sweepstakes are allowed (e.g. Sportsbet, TAB);
foreign operators cannot offer services without an ACMA license;
the minimum age of a player is 18 years;
strict requirements for advertising and protection of players.

Despite the restrictions, Australia is among the TOP-5 world markets in terms of gambling turnover,

and total industry revenue exceeds $20 billion per year.

Legal forms of gambling

Australia allows:

casinos and pokies;
bookmakers and sports betting;
lotteries and sweepstakes;
online bookmakers and fantasy sports;
poker in offline clubs.

Largest casinos:

Crown Melbourne is the largest casino in the Southern Hemisphere;
The Star Sydney is the entertainment industry's flagship;
Treasury Brisbane, Mindil Beach Casino Resort, Crown Perth.

In total, there are more than 13,000 gaming halls and 200,000 machines in the country,

which makes "pokies" a cultural phenomenon in Australia.

Online gambling

Although online casinos under local license are prohibited,

Australians freely use offshore sites,

since the law punishes operators, not players.

Permitted destinations:

sports and horse racing betting;
fantasy leagues and live-betting;
lotteries and bingo;
poker through international platforms.

Popular online brands:

Sportsbet, Ladbrokes Australia, Bet365 AU, Neds, TAB - licensed bookmakers;
Stake. com, BC. Game, LeoVegas, Spin Casino are international casinos that host Australians.

Payment systems:

POLi, PayID, BPAY, Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller,
as well as cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT).

Australian Gambling Report 2024,

about 80% of Australian adults engage in gambling,

and 20% bet online. The annual turnover of online gambling exceeds $6.5 billion.

Economic role

Gambling makes a huge contribution to the economy:

total industry income - more than $20 billion per year;
tax revenues - $5 billion + annually;
contribution to GDP - about 1.2%;
employment - over 25,000 people.

Australia uses these funds to fund sports, culture and charitable projects.

Social and cultural context

Gambling is part of everyday life for Australians.

There is even a "National Gambling Day" in the country,

and "pokies" are considered as much an element of pubs as beer.

However, along with this, the state is actively fighting gambling addiction.

💡Gamble Responsibly National Program
is valid in all states and is aimed at self-control and assistance to dependent players.

Regulators require operators to:

deposit restrictions;
self-exclusion tools;
strict rules for advertising.

Prospects

Australia Prepares Interactive Gambling Act Reform,

to adapt legislation to the new digital reality.

Key initiatives to 2030:

possible partial legalization of online casinos;
implementation of a single national player registry;
integration of blockchain licenses and crypto payments;
development of AR/VR casinos for tourism and training.

Forecast: by 2030, the total turnover of the gambling market in Australia will reach $30 billion,

of which up to 40% will fall on the online sector.

Australia is one of the most advanced and profitable gambling markets in the world.

It combines strict laws, high entertainment culture

and the growing popularity of online betting and international casinos.